• The Forever GI Bill Veterans program provides up to 36 months of educational benefits. This benefit may be used for degree. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
• Based on your length of active duty service, you're entitled to a percentage of the following:
  • Cost of tuition and fees, not to exceed the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher education (paid to school); 
  • Monthly housing allowance*( per section 501) equal to the basic allowance for housing payable to a military E-5 with dependents, in the same zip code as your school (paid to you); If you are attending multiple campuses you will use the rate of that applies to the zip code of the majority of your coursework. This applies to courses taken at our Groton location. Individuals that begin using Post -9/11 GI Bill before January 1, 2018 (VA Rate – uncapped) Individuals that begin using Post-9/11 GI Bill on or after January 1, 2018 (DoD Rate – capped) 
  • Yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1000 per year for full time students (paid to you. This is prorated if you are enrolled part time. 
• *Note: The housing allowance and books and supplies stipend are not payable to individuals on active duty. The housing allowance is not payable to those pursuing training at half time or less or to individuals enrolled in distance learning. 

• The Veteran Readiness and Employment Program is authorized by Congress under Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 31. You may receive Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) (Formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) services to help with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching. Other services may be provided to assist Veterans and Servicemembers in starting their own businesses or independent living services for those who are severely disabled and unable to work in traditional employment. To learn more about the VR&E program, review the VR&E Process page, and the tabs and links on this page. Click on the "How to Apply" tab to apply for VR&E services.
• http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/ 
• Please be sure to notify the Eastern’s Office of Veteran's Affairs of any changes, with regards to your name, address, or telephone number. (Changes submitted to the VA Regional Office will NOT update Eastern VA files). 

• The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution. Please remember that you must be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% rate to be considered for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
• https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/yellow-ribbon-program/ 

• Requirements:
  • 90 days active duty (Initial Entry Training and Active Duty Training does not qualify towards active duty service). Please see dates below for Specified War Times. 
  • Honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces. 
  • Copy of Member-4 of DD-214 (with required dates of service). 
  • Be a matriculated student (officially accepted to the University through the Office of Recruitment and Admissions). Eligibility ceases upon withdrawal, dismissal, and/or graduation. 
• Veterans who initially qualify for the in-state CT tuition waiver at the time of admission may opt to attend either full time or part time. The tuition portion of the tuition and fees bill is waived for full-time students; other applicable fees must be paid each semester. One-half of the per credit courses fees is waived for part time students to include summer, winter and intersession courses as provided for in a CSU Board of Trustees resolution. The registration fee and other applicable fees must be paid each registration period. 
• Out-of-state students who are eligible for the waiver qualify only when in full- time attendance (no part-time, summer, winter or intersession eligibility). If domicile is attained later in school attendance, original qualification at initial acceptance remains. 
• These requirements also apply to transfer students who may have received the tuition waiver at another Connecticut state institution.

• The Army & Air National Guard Tuition Waiver is granted to part-time and full-time graduate and undergraduate students who are members of the Connecticut National Guard and attending the Connecticut State University System. The National Guard Tuition Waiver request forms and paperwork are available through your unit. Eligible students must apply through their unit each semester. Out-of-state students who enroll in the Connecticut National Guard also receive this waiver.
• The National Guard tuition waivers are sent directly from the National Guard to the Bursars Office. 
• You cannot receive National Guard Chapter 1606 Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits if you are not actively serving in a Guard unit. 
• No fees are waived. 

Military Tuition Assistance (TA)

• What is Military Tuition Assistance (TA)? Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is a benefit paid to eligible members of the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force and Coast Guard and can only be used while the student is in the service. TA is not the same as the GI Bill. The GI Bill is for Veterans and their dependents and is administered from the Veterans Administration.
• What Will Military Tuition Assistance Cover? Congress has given each service the ability to pay the cost of the tuition expense, up to $250 per semester hour, not to exceed $4,500 per fiscal year (October 1 – September 30th). Please note: The total amount of student TA cannot exceed the total amount of tuition. This money is usually paid directly to the institution by the individual services. TA may be used for fall and spring semesters only. You may not use TA at ECSU for summer or winter sessions. This policy only applies to this type of educational benefit and does not apply to Veterans or those using Veteran benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill ®.
• How Do I Use My Military Tuition Assistance? Prior to registering for classes at ECSU, you should consult with your unit or base Educational Services Office (ESO) in order to receive firsthand guidance and information regarding your service’s TA requirements. TA is administered and paid from each service’s own funds. The eligibility requirements, application steps, and processing procedures vary from branch to branch. Your unit or ESO will confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements and will review your branch’s application procedures. You must have the required authorization from your branch before you can use your TA education benefit. Please note: It is the service member’s responsibility to complete and submit TA applications no later than 14 days prior to the start of the semester. Once you have arranged for your TA with your unit or ESO, you may enroll in a course.

Please visit your respective Military Service education portal for additional information:

Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard

• If you're a full-time or 3/4-time student in a college degree program, or a vocational or professional program, you can "earn while you learn" with a VA work-study allowance. The VA work-study allowance is available to students studying under the following programs: Chapters 30, 33, 35, and 1606,. You'll earn an hourly wage equal to the Federal minimum wage or CT minimum wage, whichever is greater.
• Services you perform under a VA work-study program must be related to VA work. Examples of acceptable work are: processing VA paperwork at schools or VA offices, performing outreach services under the supervision of a VA employee, and/or performing services at VA medical facilities or the offices of the National Cemetery Administration. The work you do will depend on your interests and the type of work available. 
• For forms and information, one or more of the following offices or representatives can assist you: any VA regional office, any VA office or Vet Center, local representatives of veteran’s organizations, or Reserve Education and Incentives Officers. 

• You may be eligible to receive college credit(s) by providing Eastern CT State University Admissions Office with your official Joint Service Transcript (JST) or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) Transcript.
• Your JST or CCAF documents the number of potential college credits the American Council on Education (ACE) recommends for your military training, education and occupational experiences. The primary purpose of the JST and CCAF is to assist service members in obtaining college credit for their military experience if applicable. 
• The JST is for the following branches: 
  • Army 
  • Marines 
  • Navy 
  • Coast Guard 
• The CCAF is for the following branch: 
  • Air Force 
  • Air Force Reserve 
  • Air National Guard 
• Once you request your official JST or CCAF transcript be sent, Central Connecticut State University will evaluate the college credit recommendations on your transcript to determine the amount of transfer credit you have earned. This credit can be used for requirements for a specific major, general education or electives. 

• Click here to file a Veterans' Benefits Application for educational benefits with the Eastern Department of Veterans Affairs.
• If you have received benefits at a previous school, you must submit a "Request for Change Program or Place Training" form (VA form 22 - 1995). If you have NEVER used your benefits before you must submit an "Application for Education Benefits" (VA form 22 - 1990) along with your DD-214 and/or your "Notice of Basic Eligibility" (DD form 2384, if a National Guardsmen) and a copy of your contract if you are eligible for the college fund (kicker) to the Buffalo VA Regional Office (Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office, 130 South Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202). 
• Note: Chapter 35 will file VA form 22-5490, Application for Survivors' and Dependents Educational Assistance. Chapters 30, 32, 33, and 1606. will file VA form 22-1990, Application for Educational Benefits. Students applying for chapter 31 will need to contact the Vocational Rehabilitation representative for authorization to receive benefits. 
• Once accepted to Eastern you must submit a copy of your DD-214 and/or N.O.B.E. and a copy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility to the Office of Veterans Affairs. 
  • Note: Dependents do not file a DD 214 but you must have your parent's social security number to apply for benefits. 
• Once you are registered for classes and have applied for your veteran’s education benefits, you must contact the Office of Veterans Affairs, for an enrollment certification to be submitted to the regional office. 
• Veterans are certified only for those classes that are required for their degree program. It is your responsibility to take at least 12 hours of degree required courses to qualify for full-time benefits (9 hours is considered full-time for graduate study). If you take less than 12 hours, you should make sure that all courses are required in your program. Audited courses and correspondence courses do not count as part of your course load in qualifying for benefits. If you change from full-time to part-time status you must file this change with the Office of Veterans Affairs. If you have earned more than 120 credits you must complete and have your advisor sign off on the Enrollment form before we can submit your enrollment to the VA. 
  • Note: Certify your enrollment to the regional VA Office for processing can initially take up to 12 weeks. 

• File for benefits online: https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/
• Complete a data sheet available by contacting the Veteran’s affairs office, veteransaffairs@easternct.edu 
• Obtain a copy of your parent’s DD214 (Member 4 copy) https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records 
• Obtain a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) give copy to Veteran’s Affairs Office. 

• Everyone receiving MGIB - Active Duty benefits, as well as those in the Selected Reserve, must verify his or her enrollment each month to receive payment for that month. Your enrollment can be verified on the last calendar day of the month using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave or by calling the toll-free Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone line at 1-877-823-2378. (Chapter 35 students do not need to do the W.A.V.E) 
• Students must be currently enrolled in an approved educational program and must have a current benefit award to use WAVE. The WAVE system permits students to perform a multitude of functions. For instance, students may: 
  • Verify that their enrollment has not changed 
  • Report a change in their enrollment 
  • Change their mailing address 
  • Initiate or change their direct deposit information 
  • View their enrollment period 
  • View their monthly rate 
  • Sign up for a monthly e-mail reminder 
• Students can only "phone in" (1-877-823-2378) their monthly verification if there are no changes to the enrollment during the previous month. If there were changes in the enrollment the student must use the WAVE system or speak with a benefits counselor at 1-888-442-4551. 

VA monthly benefits are paid to the student (Chapter 30, 1606, 1607) based on enrolled units or the number of units that apply to the degree objective/goal currently on file. Enrollment categories are as follows:

Standard Term

• 12 or more units - Full-Time 
• 9 - 11 units - Three-fourth Time 
• 6 - 8 units - Half-Time 
• 1 - 5 units - Less Than Half-Time* 

Summer Term

• 6 or more units - Full-Time 
• 5 units - Three-fourth Time 
• 4 units - Half-Time 
• 3 units - Less Than Half-Time* 

• VA education and training benefits: https://www.va.gov/education/ 
• National Archives: http://vetrecs.archives.gov/ 
• How to Obtain Your DD-214: http://vetrecs.archives.gov/ 
• How to Obtain your Certificate of Eligibility Online: https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/documents/docs/veteran_registration_coe.pdf 
• GI Bill Comparison Tool: https://www.va.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool/   
• GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available a the official U.S. Government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill